Center of Interest the part of the picture which attracts the mind.
Focal Point is that area of a picture that attracts the eye.
Below are examples of Compositions you should
know for your tests and use in your art! Rule of Thirds, Steelyard Balance, Framing, Rule of Odds, Leading Line, Arabesque.
Rule of Thirds is one of the main rules that is commonly used to compose pictures in photography, graphic design, and painting.
Rule Of Thirds
A pleasing composition where an image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines.
Steelyard Balance a pleasing design that is heavily weighted on one side, with a small counter balance of interest on the opposing side of the composition.
The art term "Steelyard Balance" comes from the name of the old style balance scales that were used for hundreds of years.
Framing
A design technique that places a part of the picture as a frame around the main subject in order to emphasis the center of interest.
Rule of Odds
The rule of odds states that images are more visually appealing when there is an odd number of subjects.
By using an odd number of subjects in your artwork, your art will look more natural, which tends to look more pleasing to the human eye.
Leading Line A strong guiding line that leads the viewers eye in a specific direction across the artwork.
Leading lines look best when they lead the viewer’s eye to the center of interest.
Arabesque
A composition that allows your eye to flow around the image like Arabic Writing. Arabesque is considered one of the most visually pleasing compositions.
The word "arabesque" comes from “Arab” or "Arabian". A lot of the elegant arabesque designs come from mostly ancient Islamic art. Think calligraphy, or elegant flowing movements, arabesque is also a term in dance.
Henri de Toulouse Lautrec - Arabesque Painting
Paul Elie Ranson's "Tiger in the Jungle" Arabesque Painting
Symmetry
Symmetry in art is when the elements of a painting or drawing balance each other out. This could be the objects themselves, but it can also relate to colors and other compositional techniques.
Dynamic Angles
In the painting above, by John Singer Sargent, observe how the dominant diagonal line bisects the dominant vertical line in the composition. This precise bisection of only two lines creates a strong sense of balance and sets up the design for repeated patterns and calculated parallel intervals throughout the entire compositional scheme.